High-temperature nitridization of zirconium, production of ceramic and metal-ceramic refractory structures

Based on the results of the work performed, the nature of the phase distribution in the resulting material, structural and morphological differences between the layered metal-ceramic and ceramic structures were established. The temperature range of zirconium nitride synthesis from 1500 to 2400° C is investigated, and the possibility of successful synthesis of nitride ceramics by the indicated method at temperatures significantly exceeding the melting point of the metal is shown.

Analysis of temperature measuring error in high-temperature ceramic samples with various methods of thermocouple fixing

The evaluation of methodological errors in measuring the temperature of nitride ceramics under unilateral heating by high-intensity heat flow was carried out. Simulation of thermal processes in the temperature sensor — sample system was performed using the Siemens PLMNX program. Various methods of fixing platinum-rhodium thermocouples with a diameter of 0.1 mm on the surface and inside the samples have been investigated. The regularities of the influence of the size of the hot junction, the presence of thermal cement, the shape of the grooves for fixing thermocouples on the methodological error of temperature measurement were investigated. Significant errors were revealed when installing thermocouples on the surface of the sample without violating its integrity. Recommendations for the installation of thermocouples were given. The results of the paper can be useful in the preparation of experimental samples for thermal tests on radiation heating stands.

Microstructure and properties of porous Si3N4 ceramics by gelcasting-self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS)

Porous silicon nitride ceramics have attracted a considerable attention due to their excellent overall performance, but poor porosity homogeneity and structural shrinkage induced by prolonged high temperature sintering limit its further application. Herein, as a three-in-one solution for the above issues, for the first time we develop a novel approach that integrates the merits of gelcasting-SHS (self-propagating high-temperature synthesis) to prepare porous Si3N4 ceramics to simultaneously achieve high porosity, high strength, high toughness, and low thermal conductivity across a wide temperature range. By regulating the solid content, porous Si3N4 ceramics with homogeneous pore structure are obtained, where the pore size falls inbetween 1.61 and 4.41 µm, and the elongated grains are interlaced and interlocked to form micron-sized coherent interconnected pores. At the same time, porous Si3N4 ceramics with porosity of 67.83% to 78.03% are obtained, where the compressive strength reaches 11.79 to 47.75 MPa and fracture toughness reaches 1.20 to 6.71 MPa·m1/2.